Family Stories
Tayshaun & Jessica Campbell
Who would have guessed that an afternoon craft could spark a tradition that would carry on for months to come? Well that’s just what happened when four-year-old Tayshaun Campbell and his mom, Jessica, stayed at the Believe In Tomorrow House at Pinnacle Falls this past May.
After reading entries in the house guestbook, Jessica felt inspired to leave more than just a written message for future families at the house. The day before leaving, she and Tayshaun chose a rock from the backyard and with a little bit of paint and creativity, left behind a beautiful rock embellished with Tayshaun’s handprint.
What Jessica loves most about Believe In Tomorrow’s programs is the ability to do things with Tayshaun she normally wouldn’t be able to do, thus allowing her to spend quality time with him she normally might not get. Having enjoyed a beach respite at the Believe In Tomorrow House on the Bay in 2009, Jessica and Tayshaun were looking forward to their mountain adventure in North Carolina.
One of Tayshaun’s favorite parts of the house was…surprisingly…the shower in the master bathroom! Tayshaun has severe combined immune deficiency, which has required a bone marrow transplant and regular infusions to help boost his immune system. He was never able to fully enjoy a bath or a shower because of his long-term IV, but Jessica made sure it was well-covered during their trip. As a result, Tayshaun could have spent days in the shower – he liked it that much!
Even though his head barely cleared the pool table, Tayshaun also couldn’t get enough of rolling and whacking the pool balls into each other. And if he wasn’t doing that, he was busy perfecting his game of ping pong. As a big sports fan, he loved doing just about anything around the house that involved sports-like competition!
Jessica and Tayshaun met a few of the neighbors, enjoying an evening meal next door with Rod and Jean Patteson, and taking a cart ride with neighbor Abe Shore. The mother-son duo also took an adventurous white water rapids ride with Huck Finn Rafting Adventures, and although they had a bit of a crazy ride, Jessica definitely recommends it to anyone who hasn’t been.
It’s been a long road, but Tayshaun’s immune system has slowly been building up. Earlier this year doctors removed his feeding tube, which he’s had since about seven months old. Since the mountain respite, it was determined that Tayshaun no longer
needs transfusions, so his long-term IV was removed for the first time in over two years. He didn’t get to play normally with other children until about the age of three, but now loves making new friends every chance he gets.